Free cash flow remains chronically negative, highlighted by a $1.6 million cash burn in 2025Q4 that underscores the firm's inability to fund its operations through organic industrial activity.
| Metric | Dec'25 | Dec'24 | Dec'23 | Dec'22 | Dec'21 | Dec'20 | Dec'19 | Dec'18 | Dec'17 | Dec'16 | Dec'15 | Dec'14 | Dec'13 | Dec'12 | Dec'11 | Dec'10 | Dec'09 | Dec'08 | Dec'07 | Dec'06 | Dec'05 | Dec'04 | Dec'03 | Dec'02 | Dec'01 | Dec'00 | Dec'99 | Dec'98 | Dec'97 | Dec'96 |
|---|
| Cash from Operations | -5.57M | -7.42M | 13.33M | -12.79M | -12.07M | -46.53M | -3.33M | -7.53M | -14.75M | -28.27M | -11.38M | -60.21M | -149.56M | -80.98M | -62.13M | 30.81M | -113.22M | 68.98M | 62.79M | 103.15M | -10.76M | -3.65M | 4.54M | -4.32M | 11.56M | -173.62K | -41.7M | 35.6M | -3.31M | 130.28M |
| Operating CF Margin % | - | - | - | -62.97% | -64.41% | -109.48% | -2.26% | - | - | - | -62.07% | -725.21% | -83.78% | -51.69% | -41.94% | 30.56% | -105.08% | 7.97% | 49.8% | 70.97% | -266.95% | -4.68% | 148.93% | -47.15% | 114.52% | -2.5% | -8.76% | 6.75% | -0.29% | 7.13% |
| Operating CF Growth % | 24.92% | -155.65% | 204.24% | -5.95% | 74.06% | -1295.92% | 55.72% | 48.96% | 47.84% | -148.3% | 81.09% | 59.74% | -84.68% | -30.33% | -301.66% | 127.21% | -264.14% | 9.85% | -39.12% | 1058.42% | -194.8% | -180.47% | 204.98% | -137.39% | 6756.21% | 99.58% | -217.15% | 1174.91% | -102.54% | - |
| Net Income | -1.2M | -3.16M | -1.18M | -16.43M | -52.84M | 24.16M | -5.64M | -6.42M | -30M | -23.04M | -35.51M | -43.93M | -1.29M | -81.45M | -66.12M | 570.28M | 46.48M | 76.03M | 24.76M | 72.52M | -13.87M | -22.44M | -29.09M | -60.21M | -30.15M | -23.17M | -6.99M | -52.98M | 18.22M | 35.68M |
| Depreciation & Amortization | 4.86K | 350K | 227.24K | 2.53M | 2.76M | 1.04M | 1.25M | 69.61K | 1.75M | 2.65M | 1.83M | 9.12M | 2.72M | 19.06M | 15.39M | 12.89M | 16.03M | 18.29M | 3.56M | 3.15M | 258.35K | 248.34K | 190.4K | 844.36K | 7.51M | 3.84M | 1.09M | 1.66M | 1.66M | 1.66M |
| Stock-Based Compensation | 0 | 125K | 0 | 16.15M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26.02M | 26.02M | 26.02M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Deferred Taxes | 0 | 0 | 0 | -16.15M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.08M | -55.43M | -26.85M | 2.83M | 4.68M | -86.3M | -94.52M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other Non-Cash Items | -2.05M | -2.64M | 12.43M | 11.15M | 40.03M | -73.26M | 60K | 293.6K | 15.59M | -1.43M | 1.85M | -124.77K | -123.83M | 1.27M | 2.83M | -647.87M | -13.86M | 18.57M | 41.59M | 11.97M | 6.97M | 19.24M | 24.35M | 48.16M | 18.19M | 5.6M | 5.23M | 50.5M | 29.81M | 34.85M |
| Working Capital Changes | -2.32M | -2.09M | 1.85M | -10.04M | -2.02M | 1.53M | 999K | -1.47M | -2.08M | -6.45M | 20.44M | -27.36M | 28.27M | 7M | -17.07M | 64.81M | -101.6M | 24.59M | -7.12M | 15.5M | -4.12M | -695.37K | 9.09M | 6.89M | 16.01M | 13.56M | -41.03M | 36.43M | -52.99M | 58.09M |
| Change in Receivables | -10.7K | -14K | 843.19K | -10.76M | 6.58M | 3.96M | -3.96M | 0 | 0 | -4.63M | 6.18M | 17.89M | -24.42M | -18.07M | -15.36M | 58.48M | -10.14M | -12.73M | 4.12M | 0 | 23.84K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Change in Inventory | 0 | 0 | -25.69K | 257K | -148K | -201K | 490K | 0 | -746K | -1.45M | 15.06M | -20.56M | -687K | -6.62M | -333K | -3.6M | -102.3M | 88.06M | 599.02K | -1.44M | 0 | 0 | 0 | -41.39K | -16.56K | 5.1M | 2.46M | 49.67M | -6.62M | 20.75M |
| Change in Payables | 0 | 180K | 183.06K | -792K | -7.51M | -3.8M | 3.8M | -115K | -1.43M | -65K | -434K | -13.68M | 2M | 22M | 8.98M | 30.11M | 56.94M | -77.92M | 297K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cash from Investing | 48.64K | 1K | -1.05M | 7.05M | 53.35M | -5.17M | -5K | 9.37M | 2.87M | -4.94M | -5.02M | -39.75M | -296.7M | -365.38M | -494.84M | -374.92M | -196.4M | -477.88M | -56.6M | 12M | 64.59K | 447.02K | 41.39K | 11.95M | -52.16M | -2M | -51.15M | -29.8M | -2.48M | -72.2M |
| Capital Expenditures | 0 | -4K | -148.76K | -250K | -151K | -9K | -5K | -5K | -4.9M | -4.95M | -6.25M | -54.24M | -300.59M | -362.63M | -349.63M | -251.17M | -32.45M | -4.67M | -4.32M | -5.03M | -24.22K | -24.83K | -322.85K | -33.11K | -662.25K | -2.91M | -6.16M | -827.89K | -2.48M | -2.49M |
| CapEx % of Revenue | - | - | - | 1.23% | 0.81% | 0.02% | 0% | - | - | - | 34.06% | 653.25% | 168.4% | 231.47% | 236% | 249.14% | 30.11% | 0.54% | 3.43% | 3.46% | 0.6% | 0.03% | 10.6% | 0.36% | 6.56% | 41.9% | 1.29% | 0.16% | 0.22% | 0.14% |
| Acquisitions | 48.64K | 0 | 0 | 0 | -263K | 5.09M | 0 | 9.38M | 7.7M | 0 | 45K | 0 | 0 | 0 | -125.66M | -202.15M | -133.16M | -498.53M | 0 | 34M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24.8K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Investments | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Other Investing | 0 | 5K | -905.24K | 7.3M | 48.77M | -5.25M | 0 | 0 | 72.13K | 10K | 550K | 14.49M | -16M | -2.75M | -19.55M | 39.8M | 123.13M | 0 | -9.59M | -16.97M | 0 | 471.85K | 364.24K | 11.99M | -51.5M | 0 | -44.99M | -28.98M | 0 | -69.71M |
| Cash from Financing | -310.3K | 15.11M | -37.93M | -22.83M | -38.79M | 48.59M | -24K | -13.81M | 12.63M | 5.58M | -1.42M | -75.78M | 462.2M | 520.75M | 566.99M | 274.5M | 375.64M | 65.79M | 353.92M | -18M | -185.69K | 4.78M | 3.66M | -11.29M | 11.3M | 1.59M | 1.78M | -827.89K | 0 | 16.6M |
| Debt Issued (Net) | 0 | -373K | -211.71K | -4.12M | -4.46M | 48.23M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28.76M | 890.25M | 273.16M | 260M | 318.74M | 350M | -9.24M | 0 | 0 | -185.69K | -165.56K | -165.56K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -71.37M |
| Equity Issued (Net) | 0 | 18.34M | 0 | 0 | 42M | -68.07K | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 46.38M | 76.73M | 353.92M | 0 | 0 | 4.94M | 6.63M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -827.89K | 0 | 87.13M |
| Dividends Paid | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -10.3M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -96.81M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -18M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Share Repurchases | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -827.89K | 0 | 0 |
| Other Financing | -310.3K | -2.86M | -37.72M | -18.71M | -66.02M | 432.07K | -24K | -13.81M | 12.63M | 5.58M | -1.42M | -7.73M | -428.05M | 247.59M | 306.99M | -44.24M | -20.74M | -1.7M | 0 | -7.8K | 0 | 0 | -2.81M | -11.29M | 11.3M | 1.59M | 1.78M | 0 | 0 | 829.84K |
| Net Change in Cash | -2.48M | -1.67M | -26.94M | -26.66M | 1.78M | -2.82M | -3.35M | -12.09M | -350K | -26.08M | -15.42M | -175.21M | 12.53M | 74.36M | 9.9M | -59.9M | 65.69M | -362.8M | 347.07M | 95.76M | -10.75M | 1.56M | 8.23M | -3.55M | -29.3M | -586.99K | -91.08M | -827.89K | -5.8M | 16.6M |
| Free Cash Flow | -5.57M | -7.42M | 1.61M | -13.04M | -12.22M | -4.57M | -3.34M | -7.53M | -19.77M | -33.22M | -17.63M | -114.45M | -450.15M | -443.61M | -411.77M | -220.36M | -145.67M | 64.31M | 58.47M | 98.12M | -10.79M | -3.68M | 4.21M | -4.35M | 10.89M | -3.08M | -47.86M | 34.77M | -5.8M | 127.8M |
| FCF Margin % | - | - | - | -64.2% | -65.22% | -10.75% | -2.27% | - | - | - | -96.13% | -1378.45% | -252.18% | -283.15% | -277.94% | -218.58% | -135.19% | 7.43% | 46.37% | 67.51% | -267.55% | -4.72% | 138.33% | -47.51% | 107.96% | -44.4% | -10.05% | 6.59% | -0.5% | 6.99% |
| FCF Growth % | 24.96% | -559.68% | 112.38% | -6.69% | -167.37% | -36.91% | 55.68% | 61.91% | 40.46% | -88.38% | 84.59% | 74.57% | -1.47% | -7.73% | -86.86% | -51.28% | -326.52% | 9.98% | -40.41% | 1009.64% | -193.46% | -187.23% | 196.77% | -139.97% | 453.27% | 93.56% | -237.65% | 699.95% | -104.54% | - |
| FCF per Share | -4.43 | -0.77 | 0.20 | -1.59 | -1.50 | -0.73 | -0.60 | -1.51 | -3.97 | -6.67 | -3.54 | -22.97 | -90.35 | -89.19 | -17.44 | -9.69 | -6.68 | 2.89 | 14.52 | 35.89 | -5.33 | -14.73 | 18.42 | -25.99 | 65.02 | -18.41 | -403.64 | 288.42 | -47.65 | 851.97 |
| FCF Conversion (FCF/Net Income) | 4.65x | 2.35x | -0.96x | 0.52x | 0.25x | -1.91x | 0.08x | 1.23x | 0.49x | 1.23x | 0.32x | 1.40x | 0.45x | 0.99x | 0.94x | 0.05x | -2.09x | 0.88x | 2.54x | 1.42x | -0.24x | -0.09x | -0.14x | 0.07x | -0.38x | 0.01x | 5.96x | -0.67x | -0.18x | 3.65x |
| Interest Paid | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8.45M | 2.83M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Taxes Paid | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5.74M | 9.02M | -10.4M | 13.42M | 7.42M | 1.17M | 20.07M | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Liquidity and operational insolvency
According to reported financial statements, CHNR exhibits a persistent disconnect between net income and operating cash flow, exemplified by the 2024Q4 period where the company reported positive net income of $57.8K while simultaneously suffering a massive $7.4 million outflow in operating cash, indicating poor earnings quality.
The extreme variance between accounting profits and actual cash movement suggests that reported net income is heavily influenced by non-cash adjustments or accounting maneuvers rather than core operational success. Investors should monitor this divergence as it implies that the company's reported profitability is not translating into the liquidity required to sustain its business model.
As evidenced by historical data, CHNR's free cash flow trajectory is consistently negative, with the company recording a $1.6 million cash burn in 2025Q4 alone, confirming that the firm has failed to establish a self-sustaining operational model despite its pivot toward wastewater treatment services.
The inability to generate positive free cash flow over multiple quarters suggests that the company's cost structure remains fundamentally misaligned with its revenue-generating capabilities. This persistent cash burn warrants further investigation into whether the company can continue operations without recurring external capital injections or parent company support.
Based on recent SEC filings, CHNR has experienced significant working capital swings, including a $2.1 million outflow in 2024Q4, which highlights the company's struggle to manage its cash conversion cycle effectively while transitioning between mining and environmental service projects in a highly unpredictable operating environment.
These erratic working capital movements suggest that the company may be facing difficulties in collecting receivables or managing inventory, which exacerbates its already precarious cash position. Such volatility appears to be a symptom of the firm's lack of operational scale and the inherent risks associated with its project-based revenue model.
As reported in financial statements, CHNR's capital deployment has been erratic, characterized by share repurchases of $1.8 million in 2025Q4 despite a $1.6 million operating cash deficit, which suggests a questionable allocation strategy that prioritizes financial engineering over the stabilization of its core industrial operations.
The decision to deploy cash toward share repurchases while the company is actively burning through its limited reserves appears counterintuitive and may indicate a lack of focus on long-term value creation. This pattern of capital usage warrants further investigation, as it may be intended to support the stock price rather than address the underlying operational deficiencies.
Quick answers to the most common questions about buying CHNR stock.
China Natural Resources, Inc. (CHNR) generated $-5.6M in net cash from operating activities in 2025. This reflects the cash generated directly from core business operations.
China Natural Resources, Inc. (CHNR) reported negative free cash flow of $5.6M in 2025, indicating capital requirements exceeded cash from operations.
China Natural Resources, Inc. (CHNR) spent $0.0M on capital expenditures in 2025. CapEx represents the cash invested in physical assets like property, plant, and equipment to maintain or grow the business.